Fran Rico Explained

Fran Rico
Fullname:Francisco Manuel Rico Castro
Birth Date:3 August 1987
Birth Place:Portonovo, Spain
Height:1.78 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Olympiacos (assistant)
Youthyears1:1997–2001
Youthclubs1:Portonovo
Youthyears2:2001–2005
Youthclubs2:Pontevedra
Years1:2005–2008
Caps1:60
Goals1:3
Years2:2008–2011
Caps2:50
Goals2:10
Years3:2011–2019
Caps3:111
Goals3:9
Years4:2016–2018
Clubs4:→ Eibar (loan)
Caps4:17
Goals4:2
Totalcaps:238
Totalgoals:24
Manageryears1:2023
Managerclubs1:Sevilla (assistant)
Manageryears2:2024–
Managerclubs2:Olympiacos (assistant)

Francisco Manuel Rico Castro (born 3 August 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Formed at Pontevedra, he spent most of his career – riddled with injury problems – at Granada, appearing in 117 competitive matches.[1] In La Liga, he also played with Eibar.

Club career

Pontevedra

Born in Portonovo, Province of Pontevedra, Rico joined local Pontevedra CF's youth ranks at the age of 14, making his senior debut on 18 December 2005 in a Segunda División B match against CD San Isidro.[2] [3]

Mainly a substitute in his first year, he became an important part of the Galicians' squad the following seasons.[4] [5]

Real Madrid

Rico joined Real Madrid in summer 2008, being assigned to the reserve team also in the third division. He made his debut on 31 August, scoring the first goal in a 2–0 win at UD Vecindario.[6] On 14 September, in his third appearance, against CD Alfaro, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury eight minutes into the match, being lost for the rest of the campaign.[7]

Thirteen months after his injury, Rico played his first game of the season, against RSD Alcalá.[8] On 8 November 2009, he scored twice in the 4–2 home victory over Gimnástica de Torrelavega, from penalties.[9]

In the first round of 2010–11, Rico found the net against Coruxo FC in a 3–2 home win.[10] He scored a career-best six goals during the campaign, including one in the unsuccessful promotion playoffs.[11]

Granada

On 5 August 2011, Rico left Castilla and signed for Granada CF, with Real Madrid retaining an option for the player in case of a future transfer.[12] On 25 September, he scored his first La Liga goal in only his second league game for his new team: after replacing Moisés Hurtado at half-time, he netted the equaliser in an eventual 1–1 home draw with CA Osasuna.[13]

In April 2012, Rico was sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering another injury to his right knee.[14] [15] He also missed the entirety of the following campaign.[16]

Rico was ever-present for the Andalusians in 2013–14, with his side narrowly avoiding relegation.[1] On 26 February 2015, he renewed his contract with the club until 2020.[17]

On 26 August 2016, Rico was loaned to fellow top-tier SD Eibar for two years.[18] On 2 October, he scored their first-ever goal against Real Madrid and at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in a 1–1 draw.[19] He missed the entire 2017–18 season, due to the same ailment.[20] [21]

Returning to Granada for 2018–19, Rico only appeared in one league match during the campaign for the runners-up.[22] On 16 July 2019, he terminated his contract.[23]

After retiring, Rico worked with Eibar and Sporting de Gijón in directorial capacities.[24] He was later part of his former Eibar coach José Luis Mendilibar's staffs at Sevilla FC[25] and Olympiacos FC.[26]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pontevedra2005–06Segunda División B3100——31
2006–07Segunda División B22100—20241
2007–08Segunda División B35151—10412
Total603510030684
Real Madrid B2008–09Segunda División B31———31
2009–10Segunda División B184———184
2010–11Segunda División B295——21316
Total50100000215211
Granada2011–12La Liga19210——202
2012–13La Liga0000——00
2013–14La Liga32210——332
2014–15La Liga31310——332
2015–16La Liga28231——313
2018–19Segunda División1000——10
Total111961000011710
Eibar (loan)2016–17La Liga17250——222
2017–18La Liga0000——00
Total172500000222
Career total23824162005125927

Honors

Pontevedra

2006–07[27]

2006–07[28]

Notes and References

  1. News: El pulso de Fran Rico contra su rodilla. Fran Rico's fight against his knee. Ideal. Rafael. Lamelas. es. 17 July 2018. 9 August 2019.
  2. News: El Pontevedra cobrará 250.000 euros por Fran Rico. Pontevedra will receive €250,000 for Fran Rico. Diario de Pontevedra. es. 3 July 2008. 13 February 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110711070330/http://diariodepontevedra.galiciae.com/nova/13414.html. 11 July 2011.
  3. News: Portonovo entregará la Raia de Ouro al futbolista Fran Rico. Portonovo to award Golden Sash to footballer Fran Rico. La Voz de Galicia. es. 10 April 2014. 23 April 2024.
  4. News: Gracia convoca a 16 futbolistas siendo Fran Castaño la gran novedad del fin de semana. Gracia calls 16 footballers with Fran Castaño as the weekend's greatest new face. La Voz de Galicia. es. 6 January 2008. 22 April 2024.
  5. News: Fran Rico, un entrenador por sorpresa. Fran Rico, manager by accident. Diario do Salnés. Lara. Sáez. es. 31 May 2023. 23 April 2024.
  6. Web site: El filial del Real Madrid comienza la Liga con buen pie. Real Madrid reserves start league on the right foot. Real Madrid CF. Álvaro. Velasco. es. 31 August 2008. 4 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091107194547/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/1202741437402/noticia/Cronica/0-2%3A_Vecindario_-_Castilla.htm. 7 November 2009.
  7. Web site: Fran Rico inicia su recuperación. Fran Rico starts rehabilitation. Real Madrid CF. Patricia. Del Moral. es. 6 October 2008. 4 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121006054328/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/1202743354186/noticia/Noticia/Fran_Rico_inicia_su_recuperacion.htm. 6 October 2012.
  8. Web site: "En el Castilla no hay niñatos". "There are no crybabies at Castilla". Defensa Central. Alberto. Piñero. es. 12 December 2009. 23 April 2024.
  9. Web site: 4–2: Querer es poder. 4–2: When there's a will there's a way. Real Madrid CF. Cristina. Monge. es. 8 November 2009. 4 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100325144923/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/1202803576171/noticia/Cronica/4-2%3A_Querer_es_poder.htm. 25 March 2010.
  10. Web site: The youth team takes the first three points at stake. Real Madrid CF. Lidia. Blanco. Michael J.. O'Donnell. 29 August 2010. 3 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100902172805/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1193041466734/1330013188344/noticia/Cronica/The_youth_team_takes_the_first_three_points_at_stake.htm. 2 September 2010.
  11. News: Paco Esteban rompe el sueño del Castilla. Paco Esteban shatters Castilla's dream. Diario AS. Julián. Burgos. es. 30 May 2011. 22 April 2024.
  12. News: Fran Rico ficha por el Granada. Fran Rico signs for Granada. Marca. es. 5 August 2011. 6 August 2011.
  13. Web site: Granada and Osasuna share spoils. ESPN Soccernet. 25 September 2011. 28 September 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20120730141203/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/325236?cc=5739. 30 July 2012.
  14. News: Fran Rico, lesionado para el resto de temporada. Fran Rico, injured for rest of the season. Marca. es. 14 April 2012. 23 July 2013.
  15. News: Fran Rico: "Estad tranquilos, que volveré". Fran Rico: "Don't worry, i'll be back". Ideal. es. 16 August 2012. 23 July 2013.
  16. News: Fran Rico será baja toda la temporada tras su operación. Fran Rico will miss entire season after surgery. Ideal. es. 25 January 2013. 23 July 2013.
  17. Web site: Fran Rico renueva por cinco temporadas. Fran Rico renews for five seasons. Granada CF. es. 26 February 2015. 26 February 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150226191914/http://www.granadacf.es/es/el-club/noticias-club/1262-fran-rico-renueva-por-cinco-temporadas. 26 February 2015.
  18. Web site: Fran Rico se marcha al Eibar cedido por dos temporadas. Fran Rico goes out to Eibar on loan for two seasons. Granada CF. es. 26 August 2016. 27 August 2016.
  19. Web site: El Eibar sorprende en el Bernabéu y agrava la crisis del Madrid. Eibar surprise at the Bernabéu and extend Madrid's crisis. RTVE. M.J.. Caleya. es. 2 October 2016. 23 April 2024.
  20. News: El infierno de Fran Rico. The hell of Fran Rico. Marca. Ander. Barroso. es. 18 September 2017. 30 April 2018.
  21. Web site: Confirmado: Fran Rico no jugará esta temporada. Confirmed: Fran Rico will not play this season. Cadena SER. Roberto. Ramajo. es. 10 January 2018. 30 April 2018.
  22. Web site: Fran Rico vuelve dos años y cuatro meses después. Fran Rico returns two years and four months later. Be Soccer. es. 8 June 2019. 9 August 2019.
  23. Web site: Comunicado El Granada CF y Fran Rico acuerdan su desvinculación del club. Announcement Granada CF and Fran Rico agree his release from the club. Granada CF. es. 16 July 2019. 17 July 2019.
  24. News: Fran Rico, fichaje de Javi Rico para el Sporting. Fran Rico, Javi Rico's signing for Sporting. La Voz de Asturias. Alejandro. Vigil Morán. es. 9 May 2022. 5 July 2022.
  25. News: El escueto cuerpo técnico de Mendilibar. Mendilibar's short coaching staff. Diario de Sevilla. Eduardo. Florido. es. 21 March 2023. 22 April 2024.
  26. News: El portonovés Fran Rico hace historia con Mendilibar en Grecia al meter a Olympiacos en semifinales europeas. Portonovo-born Fran Rico makes history with Mendilibar in Greece as they put Olympiacos in European semi-finals. Diario de Arousa. Gonzalo. Sánchez. es. 19 April 2024. 22 April 2024.
  27. News: El Pontevedra, campeón desmotivado ante el Pájara. Pontevedra, unmotivated champions against Pájara. Faro de Vigo. es. 21 May 2007. 22 April 2024.
  28. Web site: Spain – List of Copa Federación RFEF Finals. RSSSF. Raúl. Torre. 2 April 2024.

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